They may have not have played a game since March – but Turriff United manager Kris Hunter says his job has never stopped.
The Highland League season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic and there’s no indication yet when next term may start.
However, Hunter says he and fellow part-time managers in the division will have still been busy.
He said: “It is like a full-time job and it’s not just about coaching and managing.
“Personally I take time to try to help bring money into the club whether it’s speaking to sponsors or trying to bring in more sponsors .
“And there’s a lot of planning in terms of training and how you set the team up and speaking to players and lots of aspects to it, it’s non-stop really.
“I enjoy trying to help the club bring money in with sponsors and things because ultimately as manager if the club is financially strong it benefits me because I might be able to sign an extra player or two that we might not have got otherwise.
“I’ve always enjoyed doing that trying to ensure the club is financially stable.
“It’s not been normal but even during lockdown I’ve probably been on the phone every day speaking about football whether it’s to players or coaches, or the committee guys or the groundsman about how the pitch is getting on.
“Everyone wants to ensure that when we are able to restart everything is in place.”
For Highland League clubs sponsorship and matchday hospitality are vital sources of income along with fans coming through the turnstiles.
With just about every business effected in some way by Covid-19 Hunter knows it may be difficult for clubs to attract sponsors and get people to return to hospitality.
But his hope is that next season will be able to start soon and that business and communities will continue to support clubs.
Hunter added: “Sponsors want their names on kits and things and if we’re not playing games until December for instance then they’re not getting any publicity out of it.
“It’s the same with advertising boards if people aren’t able to come into grounds then nobody sees them.
“The gate money is important but every club relies on sponsorship and hospitality as well.
“In the Highland League hospitality is something that can make a huge difference to your income so if clubs aren’t able to have that then it leaves clubs with a lot of money to find.
“It will be difficult to attract sponsorship and get people coming to hospitality.
“But hopefully with restriction easing and things we’re able to get people back into grounds.
“I hope we can get a bit of scope for getting crowds in and hosting hospitality again.”